Convicted paedophile Alexander Aitchinson abused a schoolgirl for five years despite being visited weekly by social workers, a court heard.

Aitchinson, 38, was convicted in his native Falkirk, Scotland, of abusing a three-year-old girl in 1988 and sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution.

When he moved south five years later to Leadgate, Consett, social services in Falkirk passed on details of his conviction to their County Durham colleagues. But it is alleged Aitchinson abused another child for five years in the 1990s.

Aitchinson is on trial at Durham Crown Court accused of rape and indecent assault on the child, which he denies.

Yesterday he told the jury he had "weekly visits" by social workers from Stanley, which later became fortnightly. The case continues.